The alternative awards: The players

By Dan Warren

As the football season draws to a close, BBC Sport is giving recognition to those who have maybe missed out in the numerous end-of-season award ceremonies.

The high-profile stars of the game are already well-rewarded, so it is time to give some publicity to those who slipped underneath the radar.

And remember to get involved on our messageboards to give your verdicts on our awards - and dish out some of your own.

Here we focus on the players who may not have filled the column inches in the newspapers, but still warrant praise.

THE PREMIERSHIP

The Obvious Choice(s):
Stand up, Messrs Terry, Lampard, Henry, Gerrard, Rooney et al. Yes, you have all done very well - and that is quite enough credit for you lot, thank you very much.

The Unsung Hero: Kieran Richardson (West Brom)
When the 20-year-old Londoner joined the Baggies on loan from Manchester United in January, it hardly looked like a pivotal moment of the season.

Richardson made a telling contribution to West Brom's season

"I'm happy to go out on loan and get some experience," he said, and it very much looked like Richardson was just along for the ride in a relegation season.

Fast forward five months and Richardson is among the players celebrating a remarkable West Brom escape from relegation.

He may be planning a return to Old Trafford at the end of his loan spell, but Richardson was a big hit with the Baggies' fans and netted the second in their vital 2-0 final-day win over Portsmouth

Perhaps not as noticeably, he also netted a goal in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn - a point without which Albion would be preparing for a season in the Championship.

The Rising Star: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
The Spanish midfielder only turned 18 in May, but made 35 starts for the Gunners this season and did not look out of place in Arsene Wenger's side - not bad for a player younger than a certain Wayne Rooney by 557 days.

Have Your Say On the Premiership board

The Golden Oldie: Nigel Martyn (Everton)
The 38-year-old is the second oldest player in the top flight behind Bolton keeper Kevin Poole, but he has shown the agility of a man half his age with a string of fine displays to secure Champions League football at Goodison next season.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Obvious Choice: Nathan Ellington (Wigan)
The 23-year-old striker topped the scoring charts for the Championship, firing 24 goals which played a vital role in taking the Latics into the Premiership.

The Unsung Hero: Nicky Shorey (Reading)
Reading may have missed out on the play-offs but it was not through lack of effort from the 24-year-old Shorey.

Shorey missed Reading's final two games - and they lost both

His influence helped the Royals build the fifth-best defensive record in the Championship.

Unfortunately, they were without Shorey for the final two games of the season.

Had they won those two games, their season would probably not be over as they would be preparing for the play-offs - as it was, two defeats and five goals conceded left them stranded in seventh.

The Rising Star: David Nugent (Preston)
The lightning-quick striker only turned 20 in May, but he is already exciting many. Eight goals in 18 appearances since signing in January have left boss Billy Davies purring about his "future Premiership striker".

Have Your Say On the Championship board

The Golden Oldie: Teddy Sheringham (West Ham)
Most players of 39 have long since swapped their boots for a coach's badge or a pundit's microphone. Not Sheringham, who continues to terrorise defences and notched 21 goals to help the Hammers into the play-offs.

LEAGUE ONE

The Obvious Choice: Stuart Elliott (Hull)
Northern Ireland international Elliott played a key role as Peter Taylor's men secured their second successive promotion, netting 29 goals.

The Unsung Hero: Juan Ugarte (Wrexham)
The Dragons' troubled campaign ended in disappointment with relegation to League Two and their rollercoaster ride was mirrored by the Spaniard's season.

Ugarte's haul included an amazing five goals at Hartlepool

Ugarte scored 22 league and cup goals and when he hit form, he was on song in a manner few players in any division could match.

A five-goal haul in the remarkable 6-4 away win at Hartlepool was no fluke, as Ugarte also netted all four in the 4-2 away league win at Chesterfield.

There were two more hat-tricks plus a Millennium Stadium goal in the 2-0 LDV Vans Trophy Final win over Southend - but not enough to stop Ugarte facing up to relegation.

The Rising Star: Leroy Lita (Bristol City)
Lita turned 20 this season and fulfilled the promise he had shown as a teenager in spectacular fashion. A whopping 30 goals in all competitions included, naturally, a goal on his debut for England Under-21s.

Have Your Say On the League One board

The Golden Oldie: Dean Windass (Bradford)
Windass is enjoying a brilliant Indian summer to his career, and scored 27 of City's 64 league goals this season - that is 42% of all their League One strikes. With that form, the Bantams will not be shipping him off to the retirement home just yet.

LEAGUE TWO

The Obvious Choice: Phil Jevons (Yeovil)
League Two's top scorer was hugely influential in the Glovers title-winning season. Three hat-tricks were included in his monster haul of 29 goals.

The Unsung Hero: Ian Richardson (Notts County)
The phrase 'stalwart' could have been invented to describe the Notts County player-boss.

Richardson dug deep to secure County's League Two survival

After a Magpies career totalling more than 300 appearances, Richardson was appointed player-boss in October following a shaky start to the season.

He swapped the playing field for the dug out, but remained committed to the cause of keeping County afloat.

They may not have set the division on fire, but Richardson did enough to secure his side's League Two status - and will return as a player next season.

The Rising Star: Freddy Eastwood (Southend)
The 21-year-old could not have made a better start to the season, netting his first goal after just eight seconds. It set the tone for what was to follow, and 21 more goals came as the Shrimpers just missed out on an automatic promotion spot.

Have Your Say On the League Two board

The Golden Oldie: Peter Beagrie (Scunthorpe)
He may be just six months off his 40th birthday, but Beagrie is still good enough for a regular start in a promotion-winning Scunthorpe side, impressing enough to win a place in the League Two PFA team of the year.

CONFERENCE

The Obvious Choice: Giuliano Grazioli (Barnet)
Barnet's unstoppable march to the Conference title was underpinned by Grazioli who struggled to stop scoring this season, netting 29 in total.

The Unsung Hero: Jon McCarthy (Northwich Victoria)
The veteran ex-Northern Ireland international played a part in Northwich's remarkable escape from relegation.

McCarthy played a vital role in Vics' remarkable escape

The 34-year-old missed just a handful of games to help the Vics stay up, and won the player-of-the-year prize from boss Steve Burr.

The delights of the Conference may not quite match up to the venues he enjoyed during his days at Birmingham.

But despite the less illustrious surroundings of the non-league game, McCarthy proved that his passion for the game has not diminished one iota.

The Rising Star: Chris Moore (Dagenham)
At 25, the striker may technically be a little old to be a rising star. But Moore is a classic late developer who continues to bloom. He netted 19 in what was his first full Conference campaign, plus two cup goals in a fine season.

Have Your Say On the Non-League board

The Golden Oldie: Bob Taylor (Tamworth)
The ex-Bristol City, Bolton and West Brom striker is still banging them in at the ripe young age of 38. He has bagged 18 for the Lambs, including a match-winning hat-trick early in the season at Leigh.